Right Face–Arrow Face Traverse
WHY DO THIS HIKE?
It annoys me that Platteklip Gorge is the most walked route on Table Mountain because it’s, quite frankly, an uninteresting slog. Unbeknown to all the Germans winding up Platteklip’s wearying zigzags, just to the right of it is a glorious trail that takes you across the whole right face of the mountain and through some exciting and unexpected rock tunnels.
Like India Venster, Right Face–Arrow Face offers thrilling scrambles and glorious views, but is wilder and less frequented, and includes the bucket-list bonus of the Amphitheatre traverse and tunnels.
HIKE DESCRIPTION
Start walking up Platteklip, but turn right onto the upper contour path and follow it for about 10 minutes. Just before a metal signpost, find the small path heading up. Follow it around the left of Union Cave, then keep right towards Yellowstone Gully and on up Right Face Buttress. (The path also splits left to Union Ravine after the cave, so keep right.) Enjoy plenty of scrambling up Right Face Buttress, then, when you reach the cliffs of the upper rock band, turn right around the corner to find the traverse. Be cautious on the narrow ledge and climb carefully up the rock step to reach the tunnels, two of which have tight exits that require you to remove your backpack to squeeze through. The traverse joins up with the top of India
Venster to reach the upper cable-car station.